The flash method uses the default key set by setFlash(). You can also retrieve specific keys in the session. For example, the Auth component sets all of its Session messages under the 'auth' key

// Controller code
$this->Session->setFlash('My Message');

// In view
$session->flash();
// outputs "<div id='flashMessage' class='message'>My Message</div>"

// output the AuthComponent Session message, if set.
$session->flash('auth');

1. // Controller code
2. $this->Session->setFlash('My Message');
3. // In view
4. $session->flash();
5. // outputs "<div id='flashMessage' class='message'>My Message</div>"
6. // output the AuthComponent Session message, if set.
7. $session->flash('auth');